Failure to properly administer the Oceans Act, 1996 and The Fisheries Act, 1985 has created a negative impact on marine life in British Columbia

Canada borders three oceans and has the longest coastline in the world (Fisheries & Oceans, 2017). Marine life is what defines Canada and especially the Province of British Columbia. Canada’s economy, environment and social fabric are linked to the oceans and their resources. Canada’s oceans are not only home to an immense web of marine life, but they also generate half of the oxygen people breathe, act as thermostats to regulate the Earths’ temperature, and support the majority of the planet’s diversity (Fisheries & Oceans, 2017). Oceans cover 71 per cent of the Earth’s surface and contain 97 per cent of its water. As of today, oceans have absorbed more than 90 per cent of emissions- trapped heat since the 1970s (Fisheries & Oceans, 2017).